:?i^y^a^-^ ////. St. DAVID'S DAY OR, THE HONEST WELCHMAN. A BALLAD FARCEy IN TWO ACTS. AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRE-ROTAL, COVENT-GARD EN, By THOMAS DIBDIN; AUTHOR OF *' THE JEW AND DOCTOR," *' SCHOOt FOR PREJU- DICE,'* ** IL BONDOCANI," ** FIVE THOUSAND A YEAR," "mouth of the NILE," *^ NAVAL PILLAR," "AL- TERATIONS AND ADDITIONS JN THE BIRTH- DAY," " HORSE and" WlTJOV/," &C, &C, LONDON: Printed by A, Strakan, Ptinte's-Street j FOR T. N. LONGMAN AND 0. REES, P ATE RNOSTE R- R OW. 1801. [Price One Shilling.] to the inhabitants of Carmarthen and Haverfordwest, and to every native of the principality of wales, who practises hospitality with the characteristic warmth experienced by the author in the above-named towns, THIS DRAMATIC TRIFLE IS MOST HUMBLY INSCRIBED. A2 DRAMAflS PERSONS. OldTownley, - - - Mr. Mundew. William Town! ey, - - Mr. Incledon. Qyyen _ - - - Mr, TowNSEND. Peter Plimlimmon, - - Mr. Fawcett. j)i^.jj , _ - - Mr. Simmons, £llcn - » - - Mrs. Atkins. Taffline, - - - - Mifs Simms. Gwinneth, - - - Mrs. Whitmore, Welch pirl, - - _ MifsLESERVE. Welch Lads and Lajfes, Dajicers, arid Chor.us, SCENE— A Village in Wales. The Mujic compofed and compiled ^ Tho. At t wood. St. DAVID'S DAY; .nv:;^ HONEST WELCHMAN, ACT. L SCENE I. — A romantic mountainous View* — On k one fide^ the Cottage of Owen^ Jurrounded and decorated by ruftic Ornaments of Garden^ Wa- ter^ Foliage, and Honey -fuckle ^rees, — A Water- fall and wooden Bridge beyond.— Over the Stream is Jeen a Village and Parifh -Churchy with the Flag flyings and Bells heard ringing at a dif- tance^ — Beyond the Village the Ocean isjeen^ Owen, Ellen, tf»i William come forward^ and Jing the following Glee. Hark, the diftant village peal. In fvveet refponfive found. Bids blythfome echo hither Ilea!, To cheer the hamlet round ; And hark, the fweetly tinkling rill. And hark, on every fpray. The feather 'd race the chorus fill. To hail St. David's day. A 3 iViU. 6 St. DAVID'S DAY; PFill. The fun feems to join in the honnage you pay the day of your patron faint. Owen, The fun (hines upon the honed man, look you, every day, and all days. All around lis fmiles but my little Ellen here ; and fhe — El/eti. She too is happy, my dear father ; only a thought juft now came acrofs me of the fufferers who may have perifhed in the wreck, from which, laft week, we faved poor William. It calls to my mind the melancholy recolledion of Mary, our loft, and loved companion. Song — Ellen. *Twas ipring, all nature gaily fmiling Graced the fields with many a flower, Mary, love in thought beguiling. Dearly own'd young Cupid's power. In penfive mood fhe gain'd the fpot Where firll fhe faw her lad (o dear; But ah ! deferted was his CQt, Poor Mary fighM, and dropt a tear ! She views the Tea, whofe bofom heaving Late the angry florm had torn. Where, many a mournful fragment leaving, A haplefs wreck was diftant borne. She fees with pain the fhattered bark. What breathlefs form now floats to fhore ? *Tis Henry's corfe ! Poor Mary, hark ! That mournful cry 1 fhe breathes no more. PFilL William hopes to thank you more fubftantially than by words. I have written to my father, who is rich : his anfwer muft certainly ar- rive to-day J and he will reward your generous hofpitality. Owen, Hofpitalities in the pofom of a Welch- man is natural and poffiblc as mites in a chcefe, or goats Or, the honest WELCHMAN. 7 goats upon a mountain : and I renfiennber once having read in a pook of nay creat, creat grand- father's— Enter GwiN^ETn/rom the Cottage. Gwin, Here is a pribbling and prabbling about goats and grandfathers, when it is time to be putting on your peft coat, and to prepare to do honour to the memory of coot St, David. Ellen, Dear, dear, what a pity William has nothing left but that ugly jacket and trowfers 1 B'ill. *Tis a drefs, Ellen, fit for the fon of a monarch. *Tis a drefs in which more honour has been gained for Britain than by all the glitter that adorns her court. Owen, And I ferily pelieve that our enemies were never petter dreft than when a Britifh failorwas at hand to do it for them, look you. [^Exit into cottage, Ellen, Sailors are certainly brave fellows ; and I love them dearly. (Looking at William.) Will, The ivy clings to the flurdy oak ; the lamb repofes fafely by the generous animal that protedls it. Why then Ihould any of our fair coun- trywomen withhold their fmiles from the lads who 6ght, conquer, and die for them. Song. If a landrman would know the true creed of a tar. Tell him this, juft his wifh to belay ; A Tailor believes, foul or fair, peace or war, 'Tis all for the bell, come what may. His heart at Humanity's poft never nods, Honeft fympathy beams in his eye ; In battle fuccefsfuUif not, where's the odds ? He won't run, but with glory he'll die, A 4 His 9 St. DAVID'S DAY| His home and relations he feems to forego, But his country new joys can impart ; For a true honeft tar, don't we all of us kno\^'. Finds a home in each Englifhman's heart. Britannia^s his moihery his brethren are we. And befides, 'tis with rapture I fing. That each gallant lad who for us bfaves the fea. Finds vi father bclov'd in his King, During the Song, Gwinneth ^nd Ellen are talk- ing apart — At ike end of it they come forward. W- Gwin, Well, well, I tell you, you muO: n have fuch anxieties apout William. His father is rich, and it will not be firtuous of you ; fo conne in, for there is the ale to tap, and the harp to tune, and the leeks to cut, and I don't know what nnyfcif. Come, come, 1 tell you. {_Exit into cottage. Will, And amidft all this inrsportant bufinefs, can Ellen have a thought to throw away upon poor William ? Ellen, Very litde time will prove how far Wil- liam is fincere : (hould he not be fo, what will be- come of Ellen ? Duet. WilU Ah ! why fuppofe deceit is nigh. When William is in view ? Ah 1 why fuppofe he heaves a figh For any fair but you ? Thofe charms albne my heart enflave, For thee my wllhes pine ; I'd give up all this Tide the grave Could I but call thee mine, Elkn, Ah ! why with looks of love perfuade. Which too fuccefsful woo ? Ah ! why thus tempt a fimple maid. Too much inciin'd to you ? Let Or^the honest WELCHMAN. 9 Let honour confecrate the band Of love 'tvvixt you and me ; And till a pu'-ent gives this hand. This heart I'll keep for thee. Botlu Let honour, o:c. William leads her to the Cottage and returns. Will. If my father refufes to fanclion my affedbions for this girl, I dial] have efcaped the dangers of the ocean for a lift; of wrerchedncfs on fhore. I have already been here above a week, and he has neither anfvvered my letter, or fuppiied me with the common ntccfTaries I wrote for. Tis very ftrange ! Enter Taffline. "laffi. Ah! Mr. Vv^illiam, we fhall all be fo merry to-day j and the girls in the village are near pulling caps to have you for a partner. Will, Indeed ! And pray, who dances with you ? Taffl. My old f//eetheart, Peter Plimlimmon. The London folks laugh at him, and fay he'3 quizzical ; but a man who has refigned one poft under, government to be promoted to another, isn't to be laughed at. Will. True; he was guard to the mail coach, •and is now poft-mafter and letter-carrier to three whole villages. It mud have required great in- tereft to bring it about. ^affl. Well, and our family have great intereft. My father makes all the excifemen's inkhorns j my mother was fofter nurfe to the clerk of the parifh ; and my own brother is, at this moment, fubftitute for a miiitia man. Will lo St. DAVID'S DAY; UllL I fee your fweetheart delivering the Lon- don letters : 1 very eagerly expeft one myfelf : and as he*s always in a hurry, without ftirring a foot, I'i! fave him the trouble of coming fo far to bring it me. {Exit, 'Taffl. Yes, yes — when Peter and I are married, there will be anoiher holiday in the village: and who knows but upon his promorion they may en- truil me with ih.^. Q'^jq of the lerrer-box. I fliall fee through half the a.fi'^airs of the uajiih : and how envious the neighbours will be to fee the 'fquire's parcels dirccled to the care of Mifirefs PiimliiTi' inon, at the pofl-office ? Song — T.^ffline, O how Taffline hopes and fears to fee the wifli*d-for day. So merry blithe and cheary. When to church, in white array 'd, Ihe gaily trips away. To marry with her deary, O how how fine my lad will be. Neat and fpruce, and all for me. What a charming fight to fee Taffline and her deary. O how Taffline hopes, &c. O how ev*ry pretty girl will watch with eager eye. While I fay, half crying. The ** yes," which to pronounceeach pretty anxious girl does ligh; Howe'er fuch wifh denying. Thofe who oft with {'corn fay nay. May repent the time when they Were afk'd to name the wedding day, And were not more complying. O how Taffline hopes and fears, kz. Enter Plimlimmon. Vlim, Taffline, my tight girl, Tm glad to fee you. Hurry of bufinefs won't permit to fay more ; the Or, the honest WELCHMAN. ii the mail-coach is jufl: in, and I mufl: have a ptrep at the pafiTengers. Taffl, Did you bring William a letter ? Plim, Yes, from a great man, I dare fay ; for it was hardly poffibie to make out the direiflion. I had like to have loft my poftagej for, as I could not read the fuperfcription, I took it for a frank. Taffl. Dear me, what a charming thing it is to be a man of bufinefs ! Plim, Yes, 1 believe it is, indeed. Morgan Rattler, the mail-coachman, don't drive over much more ground than I tread in a day. I carry news to the Tquire, parchments to the attorney, politics to the club, and love-letters to the iaffes. ^affl, Lud ! how glad they muft be to fee you ! Pltm. Everybody's glad to fee me. Wherever I come, theyVe all on the broad grin : doors fly open before I can knock at ^em ; and the firft houfes in the land are proud to admit a man of letters. 'Taffl. Dear me ! what a delightful buftle he's always in ! Plim. Always famous for pleafant intelligence. Delivered the news to the lottery fociety at the 'Chefliire-cheefe, that one of their three fixtcenths was next number but two to the thirty thoufand. Carried Goody Apprice the letter which brought her fon*s prize- money. And diank '' better luck ftill," with Harry Henpeck, for bringing an ac- count of the death of his wife. Taffl, Yes, and you delivered the letter with the ugly piece of paper in it, thatarrefted p^or Morgan. Plm, Well, even that was gladly received i for I carried it to a lawyer. Taffl, But, Peter, I want to aflc your advice. Plim, So does every body. Tve travelled in his Majefty*s livery, and have learned enough to teach the whole village. i« St. DAVID'S DAY; Taffl, Yes, but you don't .always teach *em right i witnefs Ned Kvan'o wedding. Pli?n. A little miftake. Ked; was a great dunce, .and, till he got married, didn't evcii know the ufe of a horn-hook. So he ail<:td me to write down what lie fhould fay at the ceremony. I mifiook it for a chiiftening; and when the parfon afRed if Ned Evans. would have Winnifred Jenkins to be his wedded wife, he anTwered audibly, " I renounce them all." Taffl. But I was thinking it wou'dn^t be amifs if, before we were quite fettled, I was to take a trip to London. Plim, To London 1 ah ! how often have I been hoifted up behind the mail, horn blowing, whip fmacking, pafTengers nodding — off we go ! *Taffl, It mud be pure pleafant. Plim, Pleafant ! why there's nothing equal to it. I remember when I ufed to be welcomed at every inn on the road. When Peter came, a pretty girl and a chearful glafs were always ready to meet him. Song — Plimlimmon, At each inn on the' road I a wekome could find ^ At the Fleece I'd my Ikin full of ale ; The two Jolly Bre-ivers were quite to my mind ; At the Dolphin \ drank like a whale. Tom Tun at the Hogfhead fold pretty good ftufF; They'd capital flip at the Bear ; And when at the Jngel I'd tippled enough, I went to the De'vil for more. Then I'd always a fweetheart fo fnug at the bar ; At the Roje I'd a liily fo bright ; Few planets could equal fvveet Nan at the Siar, No eyes ever twinkled fo bright. I've Or, the honest WELCHMAN. I've had many a hug at the fign of the Bear ; In the Sun courted morning and noon. And when night put an end to my happinefs there, rd a fweet litde girl in the Moon. To fweethearts and ale I at length bid adieu. Of wedlock to fet up the fign ; Hand in Hand the Good Woman I look for in you. And the Hor7is I hope ne'er will be mine. Once guard to the mail, I'm now guard to the fair But though my commllnon's laid down. Yet while the Kmg's Arms I'm permitted to bear. Like a Lion I'll fight for the Cro^ixn, {Exeunt^ Enter Old Townley and Dicky. Old T. Well, have you feen the horfes taken care of, the fadcile bags locked up, and the fheets put to air ? Dicky. All right, your honour— all as you or- dered : but i'd trouble enough to nnake nDyfclf underftood ; not a foul in the houfe can fpeak plain Englifh. Old T, Well, go back, and wait tiH I return.— {Exil Dick.) — And now to find which is the cot- taae of old Owen, who gave Iheker to my dear boy. Eh ! let's fee— that now— that's a pretty fpot, much like what he defcribes in his letter.— {fVelch Girl crops the Stage.)—H^vk ye, you pretty girl— come here. Ah ! what eyes ! and what dimples in thofe rofy cheeks! Here; here's fomething for thee : and now do you tell me who is the mafter of that neat little houfe yonder. Girl {taking the money.) Dim Saefonaig. {Runs off. 14 St. DAVID'S DAY; OUT, Dim Saefonaig ! Why, that's the name of the place, the fign of the inn, the lord of the manor, and the parfon of the parifh ! Hang me, if I can afk a (ingle queftion but the anfwer is " Dim Saeforlaig." If it wasn't that Welchmen are as honeft Antigallicans ps the befl: of us, I Ihould think that Mounfeer Nontongpaw had fet- tled among them, under a feigned nam.e. Eh ! here he comes, I fuppofe. Enter Ov7L-ii fro7n houfe. Old 7*. Mr. Dim Saefonaig, Tm glad to fee you* Owen. Dim Saefonaig ! why, it is nonfenfe and fooleries : her name, look you, is Owen i and Owen is a name, under favour, that has done ho- nour, and reference, and feneration to antiquities. Old T, Yes, and I believe it has done good fcr- vice to nne and my poftcrity. Give me your hand. Thank ye — thank ye : don't wonder at my pre f- fing ic hard. You faved my fon from fhipwreck ; and if you have a child yourfelf, your own feelings, my good fellow, will teach you to judge of mine, Owen, Well, well, if he is your fon, his father is welcome to all a poor Welchman could do for him. Old T. Poor! Why, with this cottage, this air, and this profpedt, *cis impofTible to be poor. Owen, It is in thefe times ferry poflible to be poor, and of coot families into the bargain. Hur own fifter's fon married the widow of Mr. Mono- poly, the great mealman, defcended, by the mo- ther's fide, in a right light from — Old T, And if the whole family of the Monopo- lies, by the father's fide, were all exalted^ in a right line, what a bleffed job it would be for the whole nation.. Or, the honest WELCHMAN. 15 nation.— But where is this poor boy of mine ?— • Adod, this has been an unlucky fpor. Twenty years ago, I loft an hundred pounds fotnewhere in this neighbourhood. Owen. An hundred pounds ! Old T". Yes, I did : notes, pocket-book, and all. Owen. Paflion of hur heart; for why did you not make fearch and enquiries, and adfertizements to find it ? Old T, Becaufe I never mifted it till I was on board a vefTei, towards which I was on my way when I loft my money. There was no putting back ; and the friend 1 afterwards wrote to, took ic in his head to die fuddenly : his affairs v^ere lefc in fuch confufion, that whether he u. d fought for my property, found it, or given himfelf any uoLble about it, I never could exactly learn. Owen, Mercy defend us, only think cf that ! — But 1 fee your fon is coming this way ; fo I leave you to talk of your partings and meetings, and adventures and ficilTuudes, while I prepare your tinner within. OldT. Yes, I ftiall tafte your ale, old boy; I cxpedt a treat. Owen. And welcome. I have a ferry pretty treat after tinner, of which you fliall have little ex- pedlations. Old. T. Oh ! what, fome merry making in hon- our of the day. Owen. Yes, and fomething moreover. I'm glad you came on the tay of Saint David, for there will be as fine fagaries and fairings as you would wi(h to look upon : for upon this tay the heart of a Welchman is fo jump apout in his pofom, that 'tis no wonder his heels will keep it company. 10 l^Exif into cottage. i6 St. DAVID'S DAY ; Old T. Adod, I like thefe Welch men ; it makes a man merry t() look at *em : a chearful counte- nance is the index of an honed heart. Enter William. • 1 Old T*. Ah ! my dear boy — my poor William 1 my loft child ! Kow happy your naother will be to fee you I Give us t'other lliake of your hand. Well, and what, didn*c you fave any of your cloaths ? I'm fo plea fed ! As foon as the old lady fees you, fne'll fay Why, damme, what a pickle you are in, you dog ! \_Surv eying his dre/s. Will. Aye, I was much worfe, fir, till honed Owen relieved me. Oh fir, fuch kindnefs I have received from this v;orthy family ! Old T. 1 know it; and the worthy family Iha'n't go unrewarded. I like the old fellow very much. But what the devil's that you've got in your hat ? (^pcinting to the leek worn by William.^ F/ilL It's a badge I wear in compliment to my prcferver ; an enfign that is honoured by, and does honour to the fiift charadters in the land. Btfides, fir, it was placed here by the hands of Ellen, a girl who — O/^r.Ehl what! Ellen 1— And who the devil's Ellen, whofe white hand has made fuch a greenhorn of you ? WilL Ah ! my dear fir, were you but to fee her! Old 'T. See her ! nonfenfe. I'll tell you what — I marned as clever a girl aseverfaid *^yes,'* before a parfon j but I never fuffered her to decorate my head in her life. Adod, if (lie had«— mil. Or, the Honest wELCtiMAN. 17^ tVilL But Ellen, fir, is the daughter of my pre- ferver. Befides, fhe's fo Iweet a girl ! Old'T, If file's a fweet girl, youVe the greater rogue ; and if you would dare to feduce the child of the worthy Wclchmanj who Iheltered and proteded you, you ought to be fent back to {^a. in a cock- boat, with no other provifion than a large leek in the bottom of it. Will, I feduce her ! fir — not for v/orlds ! — and fince you kindly agree to our union — Old T, J agree ! Why the fak water has wafh- ed away your fenfes. /agree! Why, hark ye, you ungracious fea-gull — if ever you fay another word PFilL Hufh I my dear fir, hufh ! the villagers are coming to fettle the plan of this evening's feftival. Surely you would not wifli to diHurb their honeft pleafure. Old T, I difturb 'em ! TU knock you down, you dog, if you offer to fay that ever I was cut of humour when other folks were inclined to be hap- py. No : the pleafures of the peafant are doubly his own ; for he earns them ; they are the fweeter for fucceeding the efforts of hontfi labour ; and" he muft have a hard heart, indeed^ who, for a moment, would rob the poor of thole innocent delights which make them the richeft people in the world. Owen <^;?i Gwinneth enter from Cottage. — ney welcome OldTowNLi.Y. — Taffline e?2lers, pre- ceded by Harpers, leading the Village Lads a7id LaJfeSi who commence the following B FINALE. l8, St. DAVID'S DAY 5 FINALE. Owen. -^{michJir.) In praife of renowned St. David, Let the lads and the lafTes mingle $ Let mirth go round. While the harp's glad found Makes the ear of each Welchman tingle. Chorus — Let mirth go round, kt, Ellen. Now in jocund meafure neatly featly tread the ground. And merry merry be ; OU Town LEY. For old Care, if here he ventures to be found. Why, what care we. William. "With a fav'rite fvvain, each fair one hand in hand. Tread a fprightly round; Real joy will Hill await the ruflic band. By honeft pleafure crown'd. Chorus— ^Qw in jocund, &c» Welchman. There's Watkin, Tait, and Mary, There's Morgan, Win, and Nell, Kur knows no little fairy Can caper half fo well. Then tance upon St. Taffy's day. For it is creat delight ; While in pretty notes the harp (hall play. Him Tel f will tance all night. Trip it, I pray you, now. Foot it, 1 pray vou, now, Hur will caper too ; While finging and laughing. And piping: and quaffing, Shall make a prance to do. Da Capo Chorus, Dance and exffunf* O*, THE HONEST WELCHMAN. t^ ACT IL SCENE \.—Infide of a Cottage. Owen and Welchmen difcovered. Glee. Come honeft lads, true Britons come. The cheering goblet pafs. We'll drink our King, our native home^ Each friend, and lavVite lafs. Let fortune fmile, let fortune frown. From vicious pafiior free, Tho' fometimes up, and fometimes down. We mil fhall cheerful be. Good fellows all, in friendftiip's band United may we prove, For Britain's Tons in Britain's land Shou'd ftill each other love. Our foes may fmile, our foes may frown. Yet never will we wince. But drink fuccefs to Britaiii's crown. Laws, people, church, and prince, B 2 Owen, ^t St. DAVID'S DAY; Owen, Well fung, my coot lads ! There is no Nations, look you, or kingdoms, or principalities upon land, or upon Tea that can hold up their heads like the Vv>lch and the Scots, and the Irifh, and the Engliili. They are all prothers and fifters, and none but the Tevil hinnfelf, with reference be ic fpoken, fhall evs?r be able to feparate or tivide them — So pegone to your tancing and fportsj for I havp worcs of advice and admonitions to fpeak v/ich my litde Ellen here. {^Exeunt Wehhmen. Ellen enters, Ellen. Did you fend for me, my dear father ? Owen. Yes, my child, I pelieve you have had experience that I love you as well as a farher can love the child of his affedions. Ellen. I'm fure you do, fir, and I hope youVe no caufe to doubt my duty in return. Owen, ITeaven knows there is no caufe, and if there was fome ttcxnt pride your father took in pringing you up fomething apove the common people, 1 hope, look you, you v/ill never make him plufh for the goodnefs of his intentions- Your n-iotherand I were ferry poor before we were mar- ried, and, the more we had lefs caufe, the more we fell in love, and as \vt could not marry, we were full of lorrows, and criefs, and tripulations. Ellen, Fve often heard my mother fay fo, fir. Owen. Yes, it is pretty ftoric^^ for a winter's night. So as 1 walked one day, with much melan- choly and aiT^rdlions, i had the misfortune, to find a pocket book, v/ith one hundred pounds "in the middle of it. Ellen. Misfortune, father ! Owen. Yes, child, it will be a creat one to you. \ took \i to Mr. Evans, the Parfon of the pariih, who Or, the honest WELCHMAN. 21 v^'ho is dead and gone, and left me the pridge of his pcft fiddle for a remeniprance of bin, and he kept the money a whole year, and as it never was en- quired for, he gave it to me, and I m.arried, and was intuRrious, and fo mv garden was loon full of leeks, and my houfe tull or children, Ellen. Well, my dear father ^. Owen. They- all died but you, and I was have a mind as I brot* you up petter than your neigh- bours, to have left you a rich heirefs ; but the owner of the money is come, and you have no fortune now, my child, but your goodnefs and your firtue, which as the orld goes — Ellen. Let the world go how it will, virtue is o^ ilerling value, and you have often faid th^it we Jive in a country where innacence ever finds protedion, and where true refpedt only follows goodnefs and honeliy of heart. Owen. My dear child you make your father weep. The fpirit of a Welch man is hafty and hot; and his nerves are flrung by the air of his native mountains — but there arc chords in his heart which like his favorite mufic, can tune, and melt, and ioften him to feeling and tears, and IcnHbilities. (^Embracing her,') Ellen. But who is the owner ot this money, and how dots he prove > Owen» There is nothing to be proved but the honefty of your father. Principal, incerell, and produce (hail be all his own. But be ot comfort, we are well re'pedted, there is work to he done lor our bread as before, and what is betrer, we have health and lirength, and a good 'J^ill to do it. B 3 Song, 32 St. DAVID'S DAY 5 Song. — Owen* View yon mountain's hoary head ! Sec the clouds that bind his brow. View yon lombs of Bardic dead. Men whofe minds are living now, Owen, once of vice the fl.ive, Ne*er could raife his looks fohigh As yonder I'teep; each haliow'd grave Alike wou'd fhun the guilty eye. " Nature honefi^ undifguis'liow are you my iad ? — >a nice place this country of yours. Finn, Very nice, do you like it ? Oid'T, Of all tl^.ings. Vv^hy, you are the lad that has travelled — could'nt you furniOi me with a few particulars of the foil, produce, exrenr, commerce and population, juO: to make a figure with when I get hom.e ? Plim» The foil, nr, is of a wholefome texture, and its produce is warm frienddiipj fliorc anger, and rough honeily— Our commerce is an exchange of kind ollices with OLir brother Briions, and the population confifts chiefly of flout lads with flrong armsj pretty grls with open hearts — mountain goaii— -garden kcks — good aie and merry mufici- 9 Old T. Or, the honest WELCHMAN. 27 Old T. (takes out his pocket hook^ and writes 6Ccafionally ) I'll put it all down, your clergymen, dodors and lawyt-rs. Plim, Our clergy think it no difhonour to bring up large families with little falary — Our doflors kill no more than they do in other places, and fome of our lawyers are honed ones. Old T. Some of your lawyers are honed ones! I'll put down that, however, among the cu- riofities of the place. And pray now, an'c the Welch folks a little fupcrditious ? Flim, Yes, a little. If a horfe falls down they call it ill luck, efpecially if he breaks his knees; and if the rider falls with it, and breaks his neck, they think it ftill worfe. Old 'T, Plow extraordinary 1 *Mf a horfe falls down,'* and the owner breaks his neck ; (writing) dear me ! only think what a man gets by riding abroad. Plim. Then 'tis faid, no on? dies in the diocefc of St. David, 3?/ithout firfc feeing a light like a can- dle or a hnthern enter the church- yard where he is to be buried. Old T. Stay, don't hurry, (writes,) ^^ a man is never thought to be dead in Wales, till he pan fee a candle in a"— —Eh ! is that it ? Plira. Nay, don't make light of their manners and cudoms — Egad if you do — Old T, Who, I? I love and honour 'cm. Well, and I darefay the men, being fo hardy, wou'd make capital foldiers in cafe of an attack from the enemy. Eh, what do you think ? 'Plim. i\fk the Frenchmen who came to Fidi- gu..rd, if they hadn't enough of that fample, let 'em come again for another — The warm reception an enemy to this country meets with from a W eich- maoj can only be compared to the hearty and hol- pitable iS Sr. DAVID'S DAY; pitable entertainment he is proud and happy to give the friends of ic. ^Exif. Old T, What a clever inteiliaenc fellow that is! and what a neat concife piece of top g'aphy I fhal] carry home with me. Egad, if any of the country folks were to afk m" for an account of the metropolis, I don't think i fhould be half fo laco- nically correft — Eh ! fupjjofe i jufl try what's to be done in cafe of enquiry : its hardly worth while tho*i for what would be a defcription of it to-day, wouid'nt fuit a v,'eck hence. The fafhions change, the manners change, and as for the town itlcif, its very ihape is fo variable, and it approaches the country fo fafl, that by the time { go back, 1 may meet it halfway on the road to Wales. Song. — O/J Townley. For London is like to a mill going round, Stjll noify, and ever in motion. Where wheels within wheels, hurry, buftle and found Revolve like the waves of the ocean Where foolifli and wife, rich ao.d poor herd together. Where fortunes are made, and men undone. Where money and wit are exchang'd for each other. And this is a piduie of London. Kings, poets and ftatefmen, queens, counfellors, clients. In Weftiiiiniler Ahbi^y lie Inugly. St. Paul's, and Guildhall, where you'd like the two giants. If they were not fo damnable ugly. Then there's gr^nd courts of law, and of equity too, L'^in either you chufe to be undone; For one with the other has nothing to do In the very fine city of London. There's the parliament- houfe, and the tower (o ftrong. The nionumenr reckon'd fo high too, Th-at if ic were only as broad as us long. Such a building you never come nigh to. There's Or, the honest WELCII?JAN. 29 There's great folks and fmall folk?, and Ihort folks and tail folks: In fhort there's a vaft deal of fnn done : Therc'5 plealure and pain quire fulHcient for all folks. Who vine the city of London. Enter Ellen. Ellen. 1 afk pardon fir ; but I came to fay, that — -that — {ccnfufed) OldT, What, my pretty mountain bloflbm ? What cny lilly of the dale ? Ellen, My father was feeking you, fir ; he's a plain man, but verv honell — he has a long tune had iome property of yours in his poiTefTion, which he is not only willing to reftore, but he thinks the whole produce l"hou'd alfo be yours, and then — Old T, And then — well child, and what then ? Elkfi (hurlling into tears)* And then, fir, we Ihou'd all be ruined. OldT, Ruined! what, by me ! I ruin a pretty girl 1 I ruin a family that faved my boy, give good dinners, and brew the bed ale in Chriilendom. Eh ! why, that wou'd be as bad as my rogue of a foo, who has com.e all this way to fall in love with — Eh ! dear, dear 1 what a blockhead 1 am ! \_4fide. Ellen, Sir? Old T. Nothing, my dear, nothing — O^nly when you fee your fat'i'ir, tell him that I really fhould like to have this matter explained, and you may tell him — Eh ! why, here he is, and ril tellhim'myfelf. Enter Owen. Well, my hearty old boy, m.any thanks for your kindnefs, and tho' 1 leave you to-morrow, I (hall never 3© St. DAVID'S DAY; never forget it; and as I have been plentifully re- galed by your Welch dainties, nor a winter fhall pafs but ril fend you Ibme of our town rarities. A large twelfth cake, a packet of polonies, and a barrel of London porter ; thofe are what I like at Chriihnas, they ferve as fauce to the true connpli- ments of the feafon; which I take to be, paying the bills of induftrious tradcfmen, putting coals under the poor man's kettle, and beef within-fide of it. Owen. You have been pleafed; then, with our country ? Oldr. Vaftly. Owen. You like the cottage ? OldT. Much. Owen, You think the place defirable ? OUT, Very. Ozven., 'Tis ferry well, it is all your own. OldT, Mine! Owen. 'Tis the fruits of your own property, 1 found your money — this is your book, and all ic contains is yours. Old T, AH what, mine! Owen, Paffion of hur heart, do I not tell you ? 0:d T, Tol de rol de riddle lol 1 \_Smging and dancing* Owen. I am glad too; but if 1 was to gain by vour lofs, I would not have fo many caperings and rejoicings, and exultations, look you. Oldf, {mimicking J But I vv'ill "rejoice, and have capers, and exultations, look you." Enter William. IF: 11. We are to march in proceffion. O/d T. Then here's your partner, and for life- Take the daughter of a man of probity, and Itt me h-.ve an early breed of grandfons like him. 1 did not mean you to have married the daughter cf Or, the honest WELCHMAN. 31 of a Welch cottager, but ilae brings the bed of portions — virtue and innocence. Old Canabrian, your fift, fetch Dame Gvvinneth, and we'll have a dance direftly. Owen. W hat fhall be done with all this ? [ Shewing the book and notes. Old 'T. It can't encreafe more worthily than in your own hands. Owen, No, no> I tell you. Old T. And aye, aye, I tell you— S'bud ! a'n't we all fellow Britons ? and I wilh that in future there may be no other emulation among us, but to ferve and affift each other. I would have the divifions of the Empire named, and known only, by their virtues : — Honefiy fhou'd be the county town of Commercej Hofpitaltty tliou'd be rhe char- ter of every Corporation, vvhile Liberality, Benevo- lence and Integrity fhou'd form a niecropoiis for each of the three kingdoms. Villagers are feen de/cending the hills with wands^ fiowerSy leeksy and appropriate emblems. The Harper takes his place, A dance commences to Welch rnvfic^ during which the vocal characters come forwards and the piece concludes with the following FINALE. \}Felch air. OiAjen. Neighbours, come row, for the honour of Wales, Tofs cfF a jorum of Owen's lioui nappy. Dance, fmg and caper, and tell merry tales. For furely we all were ient here to be happy. OUT, Gwinnet'n and J will firft couple advance. Mix in the throng as you foot it fo clever. And join in the ditty, and keep up the dance. To the cane of Huzza and Sr. David for ever ! Chorus. Neigl.'boLirs conse ^c, JV,!!, 32 St. DAVID'S DAY ; Will, WJIliam fincerely may hail the glad day Safe from the dangers and toils of the ocean> To love, who from Neptune bore William away. He'll ever bow down with the purefl devotion* Ellen, Ellen with pleafure gives William confent, Her heart to fecure by honeft endeavour. In hopes that afFedion, good humour, content Will be William's and Ellen's for ever and ever. Dicky, Dicky for Jenny tq,town muft go back. The' fweetbearts in Wales there appear to be plenty. Taffl, Among our fmart girls Mr. Dicky, good lack. Can't your nicety pick out a lafs to content ye ? Peter, Peter to Taffiine delivers his hand ; Take it at once, for 'tis nonfenfe to tarry, A match when it offers, no maid fhould withftand. Nor any live fmgle but thofe who can't marry. Chorus, Neighbours, &c. — THS END, Printed by A. Strahan, Printets-Street, 14 DAY USE RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED LOAN DEPT. This book Is due on the last date stamped below, or on the date to which renewed. Renewed books are subjert to immediate recall. JAN 30 1968 54 i REC'D LD iAR 2 6 ^975 JANl9'68-nAM 1^ ^i ^^j7Wi lom Aftt^ mJ^ L21 LD2iA-60m-2.'67 (H2 lis: 0 )47Bi> f .C. BERKELEY L lil BRAD ES CD3Stlfl5ai M26910; I)? -4-^ THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY .,■. " ? l^:-i